(Disgruntled)

WNBA
Fan Page

06.20.2002 - I was inspired to start this fan page upon
hearing of the 2002 WNBA All-Star balloting results thus far. Quite
frankly, I was appalled at what I saw and had to take action. This year,
as in previous years, the WNBA has released its ballot too early in a too short
season. The ballot is printed before any of the players listed have seen
any action. So, you have Maria Stepanova (Phoenix Mercury), who is
pregnant and will not play this year on the ballot, along with her teammate, Brandy
Reed, who has been suspended (for the second time in as many years) for
conduct detrimental to the team. At the same time, you have players listed
out of position. For example, Chasity Melvin is listed as a forward
and Ann Wauters (both of Cleveland) is listed as a center, when in truth
it is vice versa. By the way, has anyone noticed that Ruthie Bolton
- two-time WNBA All Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist - is missing
from the ballot?

I understand that it would be too expensive to re-print the
ballots with corrections, but why not correct the errors on wnba.com? More
people will vote online than they will at the arenas anyway, so why not give the
players the opportunity to be voted in at their position?

My ire is not reserved for the WNBA alone, however. I am
also disappointed in WNBA fans, voters, who don't see the value of a DebbieBlack (Miami Sol) or an Andrea Stinson (Charlotte Sting).
Debbie is the 2001 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. How can you not put
her on your team? Her assist-to-turnover ratio alone (5.83) makes her a
must-have. Stinson? There are no words to describe her game.
Last night she poured in 27 points and 10 rebounds against the hottest team in
the East, the Washington Mystics. She's an artist.

I could go on and on, and I plan to, but let's take this one day
at a time. Today, I implore you, go out and cast your vote for some
deserving players.

You'll note that I've gone with a veteran line-up on both
sides. I want to see great basketball, not fumbling rookies. I think
Sue Bird, Swin Cash and others have great futures in this league, but I want to
see the pros at work.